Visit www.AppalachianPromise.org to learn more about: The Parenting Education Network, Bristol Family Resource Center, YWCA MOMS R US, Mom Power, Hope House, Frontier Health, Highlands Community Services, Breastfeeding Essentials, Ahh Babies – Appalachian Highlands Healthy Babies – La Leche League Breastfeeding Support, Cherished Mom, Attached at the Heart Classes, Twin City Reads, Buckle Up for Life, Doula by Donation, Sullivan County Family Services, Parenting Sweet, Tricities Parenting, Tricities Babywearing, High Country Doulas, ETSU Family Physicians, Bethany Services, TriCities Babywearing TN, Sullivan County Health Department, Strong Starts, TN Voices, and more.

The holidays can be a time when joy and anxiety mix. We want our children to enjoy every moment, but sometimes we struggle to keep up or to set realistic expectations for ourselves.

As Jim Burns at HomeWord puts it, “For many of us, the holiday season is a time that is anticipated with both joy and anxiety. Sure, we love the celebrations, the family traditions, and we cherish the memories of holidays gone by; but along with them, we add the stresses of preparation, expectations and the fear of letdowns, or family squabbles that we have experienced in the past.” Read his ten tips to restore sanity and create an enjoyable, meaningful holiday season here.

New: Free Parent Coaching Sessions!

Receive local parenting support on your schedule! Reserve a time to chat with a parenting educator, get support or resources. Our Parent Coaching is available through the Parenting Sweet free of charge with support from generous donors.

Building a Support Community

“Healthy parents lead to healthy families. Not just physical health but emotional health too. However ‘going it alone’ with even just one child, let alone multiple children, doesn’t lend itself to positive mental health – no matter what Instagram says. Oftentimes parents feel stressed, overworked, judged, and inadequate. Burnout and exhaustion are real, but without a community around to validate those feelings, many moms and dads feel like that pain is unique to them.”

Find helpful suggestions on how to build s supportive community for yourself at It Takes a Village to Raise a Child: How communities can help raise kids 

The Parenting Sweet’s Library of Baby Carriers Is Now Online!

Mei Tais, Woven Wraps, Buckle Carriers, Ring Slings – we have such a variety of baby carriers to choose from! View details about each carrier in our online database. We’d love to invite you to the Parenting Sweet in Bristol, TN, to try our baby carriers (by appointment only).

Winter Tree Keys at Warrior’s Path State Park

Tuesday December 3, 2024 at 3:30 pm

Registration Required! Learn winter trees by their bark, buds, fallen leaves and more. It’s a skill that can help us observe and better understand our “woody neighbors.” Cost is $5/person and tickets are limited. Come dressed for the weather, and wear footwear suitable for some outdoor wandering.

Bristol Christmas Parade

Thursday December 5, 2024 at 7PM

State Street – Downtown Bristol

The Bristol Christmas parade, which has been taking place in the downtown area for more than a century, is a program of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. The nights festivities, which will start on Bob Morrison Blvd., make its way through the center of town before finishing up at the Train Station. As always, jolly ole Saint Nick will make his presence known, riding in the final float.

Guiding Good Choices

Registering now for our new series beginning in January 2025!

Choose from weekly sessions held online on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM or Saturdays at 4:00 PM.

Guiding Good Choices teaches parents how to:

• Strengthen family bonds and enjoy quality time together
• Incorporate family meetings and fun activities
• Equip children to resist peer pressure and say no to drugs
• Set family guidelines
• Manage anger and family conflicts.

If you are interested in this free five-session weekly program, visit ParentingSweet.org to learn more or register.

Blountville Tree Lighting & Festival of Trees

On December 12, 2024 at 6pm, join Historic Blountville for the tradition of lighting the 40′ Christmas Tree in front of the Historic Sullivan County Courthouse. Additionally, the annual lighting of the Victims Remembrance Tree will coincide. Musical guest will be The Appalachian Express Chorus. Following the tree lighting ceremony, the Old Deery Inn will be open for the Festival of Trees ($5 suggested donation).

The Nutcracker

This timeless classic returns to the Paramount Bristol stage live on December 13th and 14th. Experience the wonder of Clara’s adventure as she helps the Nutcracker break the spell of the evil Rat Queen, and goes on a journey through the land of Snow and onward to the Land of Sweets. Danced by local dancers in the Bristol Ballet Company and professional guest artists, including Erin Ginn and Jace Coronado, who return from New York City to reprise their roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Beautiful music, great  dancing, and lovely backdrops will put you in the holiday spirit!

Jolly in our Jammies at Steele Creek Park

Saturday December 14, 2024 from 11 AM to 1 PM

Steele Creek Park Lodge

Put on your festive pajamas and join Santa Clause for donuts and crafts! Free event, but the usual $2 gate entry to Steele Creek Park still applies.

Parents Night Out!

Included with all of our family memberships, Parents Night Out is the perfect opportunity for busy parents to take some quality time together with the security of knowing the Y has your children in safe hands. Participants will enjoy a fun-filled evening of activities and games for ages 6 weeks-12 years from 6:30-9:30pm on the listed Saturday nights.

Location: YMCA of Bristol
Ages: 6 weeks – 12 year olds
Hours: Saturday, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Fees: Free with family memberships

Little Musicians Program

Fridays at 10 AM
Johnson City Public Library

Give your child an early start to music appreciation! Ages 3-5 will build musical literacy and increase gross motor skills through rhythmic activities and songs led by a member of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra during Little Musicians. The program lasts 45 minutes Pick up a (free!) ticket at the Children’s Desk when you arrive.

Bundles of Joy Diaper Ministry

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 10 AM to 12 PM

Event by Addilynn Church

3225 Avoca Rd, Bristol, TN 37620-6503, United States

Have an emergency diaper need? Come by and let us help! Diaper distributions are usually held the 2nd Saturday of each month.

MOMS-R-US

What a great opportunity for expecting Teen Parents ages 19 and younger!

Thursdays, beginning September 26th from 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM! Come join us at Indian Path Community Hospital for Prepared Childbirth Classes!

Call (423)968-9444 to register or visit ywcatnva.org/moms

Museum Story Time

Join the folks at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a music- or Appalachia-related storybook, a tune or two by WBCM Radio Bristol show host and musician Ella Patrick, and a related activity or coloring sheet.

Aimed at toddler-age children and their grown-ups, they gather at 10:30am on the first Friday of each month .

This program is free and open to the public. You can find each month’s book on the museum’s Events pages.

December Events at the Steele Creek Park

The Nature Center is hosting several free events in November!
Sunday, December 8th, 10:00 am
Winter Scenic Hike: Meet at the Nature Center for a moderately strenuous hike into the woods in search of scenic vistas and early signs of winter. We’ll learn about some native wildlife along the way, too.
View their upcoming events flyer to learn more!

Kids In Motion Exercise Program

The City of Bristol, TN, Department of Parks & Recreation is proud to present Kids in Motion, an 8-week series designed to get kids moving and having fun! The class is for kids between the ages of 6 and 13 and will be taught at Steele Creek Park each Tuesday and Thursday at 1:30, beginning October 8, 2024. Registration is now open and includes a $2 fee. For additional information, please contact Becky Olinger at bolinger@bristoltn.org or call the Department of Parks & Rec at (423) 764-4023.

Prenatal Classes

High Country Doulas is offering classes on Infant Feeding, Early Postpartum and Newborn Care, and Childbirth preparation classes in Kingsport and Johnson City!

Classes begin at $55 per couple, and can be offered privately for an additional fee.

Email info@HighCountryDoulas.com for more information.

Postpartum Recovery Fitness

Join this mommy and me series for postpartum women! Learn how to improve your posture, core and pelvic floor strength and recover well from pregnancy and child birth.

WHO: Postpartum women and (non-crawling) babies!
WHAT: 6 week series, meeting once per week for 75 mins.
WHEN: Contact StrongHER Physio for upcoming dates!
WHERE: We Rock The Spectrum – Bristol (1241 Volunteer Parkway)

Questions? Contact Mary Hobbs, PT, DPT at strongherphysio@gmail.com

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). TTY users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-852-6262.

Free Virtual Car Seat Check

The National Safety Council offers Virtual Car Seat Checks as a FREE Resource! Schedule a Virtual Car Seat Check with a Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).

During your appointment, the CPST will educate you on proper selection, direction, location and installation of your car seat or booster seat. The CPST can also assist you in determining if your child is ready to transition from a booster seat to a seat belt!

Weekly Music Lessons with JAM Kids at the Museum!

JAM Kids introduces music through small group instruction on acoustic instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as guitar, banjo, and fiddle.
Open to children grades 4-8 and beyond!
Where: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
When: Weekly on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 11:30 AM.
Cost: $5 per class or $45 for 10 lessons
Registration is required to participate in this program.

Project Dads

Project Dads is a comprehensive and innovative parenting class for fathers that utilize the 24/7 Dad curriculum developed by the parenting experts of the National Fatherhood Initiative. This program helps men develop the attitudes, knowledge and skills they need to get and stay involved with their children. Topics covered include discipline, working with mom and co-parenting, showing and handling feelings, masculinity, dealing with anger, improving communication skills, stress, substance use, work and more.

Bristol Public Library Storytime

Enjoy storytime with your littles at one of the Bristol Public Library branches!

Main Branch:
Mondays – 11:30AM
Tuesdays – 10AM

Avoca Branch:
Wednesdays – 11:30AM

Growing Stronger Together Podcast

Growing Stronger Together is a weekly podcast for people who care about children and families developed by faculty at East Tennessee State University, including members of the ETSU Health Department of Pediatrics, the ETSU Center for Early Childhood Learning and Development, and the ETSU Child and Family Health Institute.

Are You a Grandparent? 

INTRODUCING GRAND CONNECTIONS

Grandparent Workshop Series: Appalachian Promise will be offering a workshop series just for grandparents of children ages birth to five! Why? We love our grandparents! Whether you are “sharing the care” or a custodial grandparent, we recognize the vital importance of grandparents. If you or someone you know may be interested in learning more about this program, please submit your information here. Questions? Email Samantha at ParentingSweet@AppalachianPromise.org.
Use our Google Form to learn more or to be added to our interest list!  

Strengthening Families

The Strengthening Families Program is a family-focused parenting class for parents, grandparents and caregivers. The class includes highly interactive topics geared toward managing stress, improving communication skills, goal setting, solving problems as a family and discipline. The program utilizes role-plays, discussions and family projects along with providing developmentally appropriate examples for common problems from preschoolers to teens.

The MomCo (Formerly MOPS)

MOPS is now “The Mom Community” – or MomCo for short. MomCo encourages and equips moms of young children.

A local chapter meets at Highlands Fellowship Abingdon Campus on the first Wednesday morning of each month at 9:30am.

Or, find a MomCo near you: https://www.themom.co/home

Johnson City Railroad Experience

The region’s newest museum is open in downtown Johnson City! The Johnson City Railroad Experience is all about trains and history and the artistry of model railroading. AND it’s a wonderland for children.

Toddler Tuesday

Tuesdays at Little Bloom House | 9AM – 12PM

Bring your toddlers and let them dive into a world of excitement! Little Bloom House is offering a delightful time filled with fun designed just for them. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to explore, learn, and make new friends!

For this special event, admission is just $10.50 per child (plus tax)!

YWCA Family Network

On-site Family Navigators work closely with family members to ensure families are receiving the care, training, education, services, and financial assistance they need. As part of the program, you will be invited to participate in community events with your family. From family cookouts to karaoke, you’re sure to find something entire family will enjoy!

For more information or to join YWCA Family Network, please visit the website, email FamilyNetwork@YWCATNVA.org, or call (423) 968-9444.

IS MOM OK?

Raise awareness about ​maternal mental health ​and suicide prevention. ​Early intervention can ​lead to better outcomes ​for mothers and families.

Cherished Mom works to transform ​the dialogue around Maternal Mental Health and is committed to ending the stigma ​associated with Perinatal Mood and Anxiety ​Disorders (PMADs) and enhancing awareness.

Learn more.